Syracuse Teen Honored for Pulling WWII Vet From Sinking Car

By

-

Sep 18, 2013

hero Teen honored for saving WWII Vet-CNYvideo

Alex Travis, a 17-year-old senior at East Syracuse-Minoa High School, was honored by the district this week for saving an elderly man’s life.

“We’re extremely proud,” said superintendent Dr. Donna DeSiato. “In our Webster’s Dictionary, you would find Alex Travis’s name next to ‘hero.'”

Travis was driving with family when he noticed a car in the Bradley Brook reservoir. The teen dove fifteen feet underwater to rescue the driver, World War II veteran Stuart Deland, who had blacked out at the wheel and drove into the water.

Continue

Health Kick ‘Reverses Cell Aging’

By

Good News Network

-

Sep 18, 2013

Going on a health kick reverses aging at the cellular level, a small study revealed.

The latest work by Prof Dean Ornish at the University of California says it has found the first evidence a strict regime of exercise, diet and meditation can have such an effect.

The study looked at just 35 men with prostate cancer. Those who changed their lifestyle had demonstrably younger cells in genetic terms.

(READ the story from BBC)

Thanks to everyone who submitted the link.

Photo of farmers market by Geri

Tragic Colorado Floods: How to Help

By

Good News Network

-

Sep 18, 2013

Colorado National Guard evacuation-CC-Guard-Flickr

Many organizations are already trying to find ways to help thousands of Coloradans affected by this past week’s deadly flooding — by setting up relief funds, coordinating volunteers and dispersing supplies. Here are a couple good ways to donate money.

The Foothills Flood Relief Fund launched on Sept. 13 in response to the unfolding disaster in Colorado. All of the money donated is going directly to people affected by the floods. It will work with Boulder and state officials to determine the most desperate needs.

HelpColoradoNow.org is a collaboration between the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the Colorado Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster that pairs donations with survivor’s needs.

If you are in Colorado, All Hands Volunteers is organizing volunteers to launch an on-site project when the area is deemed safe.

(READ the story from NBC)

Photo from the Colorado Nat’l Guard – CC- Flickr

Guinness Ad About Friendship Through Adversity Will Make Your Day

By

Good News Network

-

Sep 17, 2013

Dedication. Loyalty. Friendship. “The choices we make reveal the true nature of our character.”

An inspiring new television ad from the Guinness brewery has been viewed by more than 7 million people across YouTube and features a game of… well, you have to see it to appreciate it.

(WATCH the inspiring 1:00 video)

Homeless Man Turns in Lost Backpack Stuffed With $42,000 – And Donations Pour In

By

Good News Network

-

Sep 17, 2013

A homeless Good Samaritan turned in a lost backpack stuffed with nearly $42,000 in cash and travelers cheques he found Saturday at a Dorchester mall. After returning the bag to its rightful owner, the Boston police honored Glen James yesterday with a citation for his “extraordinary show of character and honesty.”

Inspired by the actions of the honest man, Ethan Whittington set up a fund for which $18,500 has been raised so far to help with Mr. James’s living expenses and medical care.

During the ceremony, James handed out a written statement, thanking everyone who has ever put money in his cup when panhandling. “Even if I were desperate for money, I would not have kept even a … penny of the money I found. I am extremely religious — God has always very well looked after me,” the statement read.

“Homeless people are the first to help you out,” Glen’s friend who stays at the same shelter told the Boston Herald. “He knows what it’s like to be down and out.”

The Midlothian, Virginia man who set up the fundraising page on GoFundMe.com wrote today after the fund hit $18,000, “Just amazing what people can do when they come together to work towards one goal.”

(WATCH the video from WCVB-TV and READ more at Boston Magazine)

Workers Succeed in Pulling Crippled Costa Concordia Cruise Ship Upright

By

Good News Network

-

Sep 17, 2013

Residents on the Italian island of Giglio cheered along with engineers and worker when the Costa Concordia cruise ship was finally pulled upright Tuesday morning after 20 months lying vacant on its side.

Salvage crews took 19 hours to successfully complete the painstakingly complex procedure of raising the partially submerged giant wreckage from a reef. (Watch the timelapse video below)

“This is a very important moment, a great moment. We are very moved because we had to bear this violent event and we transformed it into a great sense of responsibility,” said Giglio Mayor Sergio Ortelli.

Continue

Woman Chooses Politeness When Bike is Stolen – Gets Great Results

By

Good News Network

-

Sep 17, 2013

Note from reformed bike thief Nurse Eileen Remedios was heartbroken when her beloved bicycle was stolen while locked outside near the street.

She left a humorous note attached to the same lamppost begging for its safe return. She wrote, “Please return my bike,” which she loved for it will be “frightened without its owner.”

The 55-year-old from Brighton got a big surprise when the thief, touched by her politeness, returned her old two-wheeler along with a humble note offering a “big fat SORRY,” and saying, “I never mistreated it.” It was signed “The Reformed Bike Thief”.

She even received a new lock with keys along with the note.

(READ the story, with many photos, from the Daily Mail)

Trends: Teens Eating Better, Exercising More

Good Bites

By

Good News Network

-

Sep 16, 2013

Teenagers are eating less sugar, more fruits and vegetables, and exercising more, which may be cutting obesity rates, a new study shows. –NYTimes

Florida Sea Turtle Owes Its Health to Denture Glue

By

Good News Network

-

Sep 16, 2013

doctoring sea turtle-TurtleHospitalFlorida

A turtle rehab center in Florida turned to an unlikely substance to repair a sea turtle’s fractured shell: denture glue.

A turtle left with a 10-inch crack after a boat strike posed a tough dilemma for the Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Fla. It seemed there were few, if any, options to help repair the fracture. Marine epoxies haven’t worked in the past.

While brainstorming other ways to bond the endangered Green Sea Turtle’s shell back together, Bette Zirkelbach called her dentist, Dr. Fred Troxel.

Continue

World’s First Ethical Smartphone Launches in UK

By

Good News Network

-

Sep 16, 2013

The first prototype of the Fairphone, which has been developed by a team in The Netherlands, will be shown at the London Design Festival this week.

Fairphone’s makers say they use conflict-free materials and aim to ensure that every worker in the phone’s supply chain receives a fair wage.

With the option to use any operating system, 5000 of the Fairphones have been pre-sold and are being manufactured in China.

(READ the story in Design Week UK)

(Thanks to Andrew N. who submitted the link)

Quadriplegic Gets Long Sought DJ Career Using Technology Made by Friend

By

Good News Network

-

Sep 16, 2013

A man who was left severely disabled after he was hit by a car in Northampton is now enjoying a career as a DJ, thanks to the use of a specially-adapted wheelchair.

Tim Maguire, aged 27, has always wanted to be a DJ. After completing a diploma in music at Northampton College in 2009, his friend, Pete Cooper, designed a special computer program for him to DJ using two head switches on his wheelchair.

(READ the story, w/ video, in Northampton Chronicle)

Thanks to Stephanie Crossland for submitting the link on our Facebook Page!

Teen Sells Her New Jeep to Buy Car for a Friend

By

Good News Network

-

Sep 15, 2013

In a sweet act of generosity, a teenage girl has sold her brand new dream Jeep so she could buy her friend a vehicle.

Chandler Lacefield, 17, who was inspired by selfless charity work abroad during the summer, came back and gave up her red Jeep, which had been a graduation gift, to buy two smaller cars, so both she and her best friend MacKenzie (right), could enjoy their freedom.

(READ the story from NBC Dallas-FW)

Photo: Twitter (generous Chandler is on the left)

Man Gives Away Money on Street Corner to Celebrate Birthday

By

Good News Network

-

Sep 15, 2013

giving away money at intersection-ABCvid

The cardboard sign he was holding made him look like a beggar, until you look close enough to read it: I HAVE a HOME, I HAVE a JOB, COULD YOU USE an EXTRA $5.00?

Bob Blackley celebrated his birthday by giving away $750 to strangers on the corner of Peters Creek and Silas Creek parkway in Winston-Salemg. This is the second year Blackley has given money on the street for his birthday.

(READ the story from the Winston-Salem Journal)

Thanks to Drea Parker for sending the link!

PHOTO: Oklahoma man in a RELATED STORY:

Reverse Begging: Man Gives Away Money at Intersection (Video)

Abandoned Dog Spotted on Google Maps Gets Rescued

By

Good News Network

-

Sep 15, 2013

stray dog lured by food - HopeForPaws photo

A homeless dog had been living on the streets of Los Angeles for nearly ten years until someone called the group Hope for Paws and told them the large mixed breed could be spotted on Google Maps.

The group’s founder and executive director Eldad Hagar first lured the dog from under a truck with pieces of cheeseburger. He recorded the entire street rescue on video to help raise money for and awareness of Hope for Paws.

Once safe, the dog named Sonya needed her mangled coat shaved, and surgeries for tumors. Now she is living happily with a foster family.

Continue

It’s Not a ‘Mess.’ It’s Creativity.

By

Good News Network

-

Sep 15, 2013

A minimalist design trend has taken hold in contemporary office spaces where private walled-in offices — and even private cubicles — are given up in favor of share desks with minimal “footprints”, which leaves no space or tolerance for messiness.

But messiness has been shown to be linked to creative thinking leading to innovative choices. A couple new studies have born this out.

(READ the Opinion column in the New York Times)

Voyager 1 Becomes First Man-Made Object to Reach Interstellar Space

By

Good News Network

-

Sep 14, 2013

Voyager 1 space probe - NASA After being whipped around Jupiter and Saturn in a gravitational slingshot, the space probe launched by NASA in 1977 to study outside the Solar System has officially entered interstellar space. The US space agency announced this week that the 36-year-old probe, Voyager 1, is now about 12 billion miles (19 billion kilometers) from our sun traveling at 38,000 miles per hour.

A gold-plated audio-visual disc onboard carries greetings recorded in 55 languages along with music by Mozart and Chuck Berry and images of Earth.

Continue

Yeti Airlines Takes Orphan Kids to Mount Everest

By

Good News Network

-

Sep 14, 2013

Yeti Airlines is the only means of transportation to Asia’s remote mountain regions. The corporation prides itself for its rescue missions to Nepal — carrying sick people in need of emergency medical care and food to ease hunger.

But the goal of their humanitarian mission Saturday was bringing happiness and awe to young minds.

Eighteen orphans from Bal Mandir were given a dream flight to Mt. Everest, an event organized by Yeti to mark National Children’s Day and also its 15th anniversary.

Continue

How One Man Continues To ‘Just Pass It On’

By

Good News Network

-

Sep 14, 2013

Thomas Weller would have died in a snow bank in 1964 had a stranger not helped him. Weller, 65, has been helping strangers in the same way ever since.

“I’ve been called the Lone Ranger. And I’ve been called an angel more times than I can count,” he says. “But, I’m no angel! When you help somebody else, you help yourself. And, it’s … real gratifying.”

(LISTEN to the AUDIO story at NPR)

Photo: General File

Wal-Mart, Procter & Gamble to Phase-out Hazardous Chemicals

By

Good News Network

-

Sep 14, 2013

triclosan hand soap fitsugarDOTcomWebsite

Do you know what’s in your cosmetics? Or your perfume? The nation’s largest retailer, Wal-Mart announced Thursday that it will require suppliers to disclose and eventually phase out nearly 10 hazardous chemicals from the fragrances, cosmetics, household cleaners and personal care products at its stores.

Similarly, Procter & Gamble cited consumer preferences last week as the reason it will eliminate hormone-like phthalates and the antibacterial triclosan, which is a known endocrine disruptor, from all its products. Triclosan has been used in some tooth pastes, mouthwashes, and many soaps with “anti-bacterial” on the label.

In 2012, Johnson & Johnson pledged to remove those two chemicals, along with formaldehyde and parabens, from its personal care products worldwide.

(READ the story in the USA Today)

Photo credit: www.fitsugar.com

Sweet Story of a Returned Wallet Sparks Kindness Party

By

Good News Network

-

Sep 13, 2013

This picture, posted recently on Reddit.com, was photographed in New York City where someone was thrilled to have their wallet returned and desperately wanted to thank the human who was responsible.

After reposting the photo on Facebook, it sparked dozens of people chiming in with stories of their own about kind strangers returning wallets, purses and iphones left behind in every situation.

This might be a silent epidemic — a contagion of good news to which no one gives enough attention. Little drops of holy water that when collected in one place create an ocean of goodliness.

Check out the stream of stories below that restored our faith in humanity over the last 15 hours on the GNN Facebook Page

Katie Ackers-Schrock– I have lost my wallet twice in my life: once on an airplane and once in a NYC can. Both times it was mailed back to me anonymously with money and everything still inside…go humans indeed!

Geri Weis-Corbley– I just found a wallet today at our mailbox. I looked for an address (a couple blocks away) and dropped it off.
Likes · 65 · 16 hours ago

Drea Molloy– We returned a wallet that had 300 dollars in it.
Likes · 9 · 14 hours ago

Kimberly Smart Lavine– At Paul Simon’s 1991 Concert in Central Park I lost my wallet. It was returned to me in the mail! I tell EVERYONE this story! Go Humans!
Likes · 11 · 16 hours ago

Ilya Bass– Same thing happened to me this week. Left my wallet on the roof of my car. It fell on the road. A nice lady saw it, stopped her car to pick it up, and located me to return it. Go Humans!
Likes · 9 · 16 hours ago

Carole Sargent– Left my wallet in a Car2Go this summer and the next renter returned it. Go humans!
Likes · 7 · 15 hours ago via mobile

Betty Rohloff– There are good people in this world. When getting gas a couple days ago, I accidentally dropped my credit card and didn’t realize it until later. I went back to the service station and someone had found it and turned it in. I was so grateful as I am a senior with limited income.
Likes · 5 · 15 hours ago

Marlene Zack– I had put “home” on my cellphone contact list, so the person who found it (before I knew it was missing) knew how to get in touch with me and returned the phone.
Likes · 4 · 15 hours ago

Jennifer Rigdon– In graduate school I twice (!) lost my purse. Both times it was turned in by a fellow student. Likes · 3 · 15 hours ago

Marlo Montabon– I left mine outside on the bench at Jones. They were doing some painting at the time, and one of the painters turned it in to security. A Jones associate, yeah, but even the painters! I was a little surprised and a lot delighted!
Likes · 3 · 12 hours ago

Rhonda Aronwald– Someone did this for me too, once. They even left the cash in it.
Likes · 4 · 12 hours ago via mobile

Angie Ray Choate– I left my purse in the gift shop at a park. Someone turned it in and they looked me up using the info on my license and called me. I went and got it the next day, nothing was missing. Go humans!
Likes · 4 · 15 hours ago via mobile

Linda Marquez Schmidt– Indeed Humanity, you are great!
Likes · 2 · 12 hours ago

Rebecca Kelly– My husband once left his wallet on top of the car and drove off. A lovely guy who saw it lying in the middle of the road (quite a long way from our house), stopped, picked it up and drove it over to our house to return it with everything inside. He had a bit of a chuckled when he heard how it got there!Likes · 3 · 13 hours ago

Jennifer Landry- 8 years ago I dropped my wallet in the Walmart parking lot. And someone turned it in to customer service. I didn’t even realize I lost it till they called my name on the intercom.
Likes · 3 · 13 hours ago via mobile

Andrea Ivory– Many years ago someone broke in a friends car and stole my Gucci purse that was hidden under the seat with cash and credit cards, someone later found and returned the purse using my address from my DL, surprisingly everything was still there. Go humans!
Likes · 2 · 14 hours ago

Deb Emerson I’ve had a man chase me out of a grocery store with my purse that I’d left in the seat. Huffing and puffing as he reached my door to tell me, ma’am you left this in your cart.
Likes · 3 · 5 hours ago via mobile

Kerry Hooks- Once, hubby and I were flat broke and we went to the base for the free movie… didn’t even have money for popcorn or a drink… I was waking behind some guy and a $20 bill came flying out of his bag… Hubby thought it was a gift from God. I tapped the guy on the shoulder and said, “This came out of your bag…” Oh hubby was NOT happy with me but I explained to him that if you do bad and dishonest things, you will reap bad and dishonest things. (Now had the money been on the ground and I didn’t know where it came from, I would have kept it) but I knew that if I kept it, it would be stealing… and I was raised in a Christian home and know that what you sow, you will reap… (you can call it, what goes around comes around or karma)…
Likes · 3 · 5 hours ago

Sue Wilson-Schmitz– This happened to my 10 year old son- he lost his wallet at the public outdoor market and somebody looked inside, found his school ID and returned it to his school- THAT NEXT DAY! His few bucks were still there too. ASTOUNDING!
Likes · 2 · 9 hours ago

Nancy Nash– I left my purse on top of the car twice, it fell off twice, and was turned in to the police station, with everything there, including the $. Go humans, indeed!
Likes · 2 · 10 hours ago

Amy Roberts- To me, handing in a wallet with the cash and everything in tact, is no big deal. I’ve done it heaps of times. It shouldn’t be seen as something above the ordinary, it should just be a normal thing we do.
Likes · 2 ·

Lara Chho– How fortunate are we here in Japan that this is matter of fact! Just this morning I unknowingly dropped my wallet in a crowded waiting room. A kind gentleman ran after me to return it. Likes · 3 · via mobile

Sharon Sinisi– my daughter left her purse in a bus shelter and when she got to her placement she called me crying and asked me to go to the shelter and see if it was still there I went to the shelter and it wasn’t there I asked a bus driver if anyone had turned in a purse and he said as a matter of fact it was found by a lady and she gave it to the bus driver of the bus she boarded . So he gave me the bus drivers cell number and I called him and met up with him at one of his stops . There are good people in this world—–everything was in there. The lady didn’t give her name , a shame cause I really would have liked to get her something to thank her.
Likes · 2 · 12 hours ago

Bridget Cameron– lost my drivers license in Newark, NJ airport and it was returned to me after a week on vacation in NYC! Love you guys on the east coast!
Likes · 3 · 13 hours ago

Sheila Trice- There’s more honesty in the human race than its given credit .
Likes · 3 · 13 hours ago via mobile

Theresa Skinner– Not many people would…thanks to all the that has a caring heart !
Likes · 2 · 14 hours ago via mobile

Diane C. Rogers– I left my purse at a gas station 100 miles from home but didn’t notice until several hours later. Everything was still in it when I picked it up from their office the next morning.

Dana Risa Dinsmore– There IS hope for us!!
· 15 hours ago

Sandy Spears Griffin– See that…..so many Good people out there but the media only reports the bad in the world.
· 3 hours ago

Kathy Davies Data Stewart– Really nice!!!!! Sometimes humans fall short…..its nice to c that we can still be good
Likes · 1 · 4 hours ago via mobile

Khristina Barker– While we are on the subject, thank you to the sweet homeless man that carried twelve bags of trash from in the front of the building I was cleaning (in soaring heat), and didn’t go dig through them looking for recyclables. You made my day! Bless you!!!
Likes · 1 · 11 hours ago via mobile

Helen Pinchen– I also had my purse returned to my house with everything intact. Gave them some money to shout them some drinks. they wouldn’t take anything more.
11 hours ago

Linda Dann– I left my purse hanging on the door of a porta potty at a Patriots football game. Ran back just as some guy was exiting to see my purse still hanging on the door. Whew! And go Patriots!
Likes · 1 · 12 hours ago

Diane Nichols Avent– I left my purse in a shopping bag outside KMart once and someone took it inside and they called me!!!
Likes· 1 · 13 hours ago

Angela Koenigsberg– Someone brought my wallet to me in Brooklyn once.
Likes · 1 · 14 hours ago

Jack Hayes– Happened to me two weeks ago… Good still remains… However minutely.
Likes · 2 · 14 hours ago via mobile

Kimberly Lyons Green– Go humans!
Likes · 2 · 15 hours ago via mobile

Dena Pettry– I’ve also found more than one laying around and returned both! I believe in karma! lol I hope someone would do the same for me!
Likes · 2 · 11 hours ago

Julie Hendrickson– So cool they took the time to make and post the gratitude sign!!
Likes · 1 · 12 hours ago

Annie Clark– I had the contents of a stolen bookbag gathered up from along a roadside fence & mailed to me…none of it was valuable to the thief, but most of it was to me! Go, humans!
…and I left my purse on the car once, too! Got it back, they brought inside to the place I had just left- my job! Go Humans!
Likes · 1 · 12 hours ago · Edited

Marilyn Wilson– had mine taken at Macy’s in NYC-by time I got back to OH it had been returned in the mail!
Likes · 1 · 51 minutes ago

Virginia Park– My sister and I once found an iPad in a cart outside a grocery store and turned it in to lost and found there. The guy behind the counter gave us a confused thank you, as if he was surprised we were turning it in. Its very sad that people have to be surprised by little things like that, but the thought never occurred to us to take it. Turning it over was the only thing we thought to do.
Likes · 1 · about an hour ago via mobile

Cátia Rocha Afonso– There is hope for humans after all!!!
· about an hour ago

Kris Dickson– i have found them on top of the mailbox — I just put it into their mail box!· about an hour ago

Sharon Simpson- Love that we are hearing lots of good stories about honest people.
· 3 hours ago via mobile

Jackie Falletti – I found a zippered money pouch today at the bank and turned it into the teller there.
· 10 hours ago

Sandra J. Clifford- Left my iphone and wallet at a department store on a stack of sweaters I was looking at. Both returned. FULL Faith in Humans and this amazing experience we call Life!
Likes · 3 · 13 hours ago

Diane C. Rogers- I left my purse at a gas station 100 miles from home but didn’t notice until several hours later. Everything was still in it when I picked it up from their office the next morning.
Like · 1 · about an hour ago

Lynda Willing– GO GOOD HUMANS EVERYWHERE!
· 15 hours ago

Can’t get enough? Read more comments like these posted by Reddit users on the original post.

DO YOU HAVE A STORY? TELL US IN THE COMMENTS BELOW…